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St Stephen's History
1969
Fr George Gladky had a declaration of intent meeting held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Orlando to start a mission parish.
September
1976
The first services (vespers and Divine Liturgy) were conducted at the Fern Park location. Fr John Ealy is officially assigned rector to the parish.
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August 1978 - OCA Approved changing the name of the originally named St. George to the Orthodox Church of St. Stephen the Protomartyr.
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November 1987 - Six acres of property is purchased in Longwood for the new parish for $166,000.
1989
The parish occupies the newly-completed temple in Longwood and serves the first Vespers and Divine Liturgy.
2009
Fr. Daniel Hickman is assigned rector of St. Stephen's.
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March 2002 - Fr. John Ealy retires but serves until March 23, 2002.
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March 2002 - Fr. Mark Stevens is assigned rector of St. Stephen's.
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March 2003 - Church takes full possession of the Education Building.
January
November
December
Archpriest John Ealy
Born Watson Karl Ealy on May 1, 1935 in Lebanon, PA to Watson Edward Ealy and Catherine Ealy (née Magyar), Father John grew up at Saint Gertrude’s Roman Catholic Church, where he served as an altar boy and attended parochial school. Since his elementary school days, he was always attracted to the Orthodox Church.
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​After completing Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, the Ealys moved in 1973 to Ft. Lauderdale, FL where Father John served at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church. Two years later in 1975, Father John was reassigned to a small mission near Orlando. He would serve at Saint Stephen’s for the next 27 years as rector. At the time of the Ealys’ move to Central Florida, Saint Stephen’s was a small mission and could not pay Father John a living wage, so he took a teaching job at Saint Peter’s Catholic School in DeLand, FL. While Father John served a Saint Stephen’s, the parish grew, and became a well-established church in the Diocese of the South. Starting with only twelve people in 1975, parish membership grew to well over 150 by the time he retired.
On March 5, 2026 Archpriest John Ealy, who served in his retirement at Saint Stephen’s Orthodox Church in Longwood (Orlando), FL, fell asleep in the Lord. He was 90 years old.
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May his memory be eternal!